Toilet stool ventilating means

ABSTRACT

An improved toilet stool having an annular conduit seat with intake openings in communication with the inside of the toilet bowl. The improvement being a ventilating means which comprises an adapter plate situated underneath a tank. The adapter plate has a structure defining a conduit which is in communication with the toilet bowl through the intake openings of the seat. A means is attached within the tank or underneath a compartment attached to the adapter plate and removes normally contaminated air from the inside of the toilet bowl through the intake openings and the conduit of the adapter plate for passing it into the outside atmosphere through a means for conducting in communication therewith. A switch means is connected up to the upper rim of the toilet bowl and is operably connected to the means for removing such that pressure exerted on the top of the seat operates the switch means to activate the means for removing.

United States Patent [1 1 Poister et al.

Sept. 2, 1975 TOILET STOOL VENTILATING MEANS [76] Inventors: Clarence E.Poister, 2934 Lydia, Apt. 103, Topeka, Kans. 66614; Philip A. Tyrrell,435 W. 88th Ten, Kansas City, Mo. 64114; Walter D. Hodge, 5237 Delmar,Shawnee Mission, Kans. 66205 [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:441,453

[52] U.S. Cl 4/213; 4/72 [51] Int. Cl. E03D 9/04; A47K 13/00 [58] Fieldof Search 4/213, 214, 215, 217, 209, 4/72 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,894,846 1/1933 Bennett 4/213 1,972,774 9/1934 Hartwell4/213 2,227,920 1/1941 Baither 4/213 2,449,134 9/1948 Majauskas 4/2132,677,830 5/1954 Allen et a1. 4/214 2,847,682 8/1958 Shay 4/2132,985,890 5/1961 Baither 4/213 3,066,317 12/1962 Cawieza1.... 4/2133,108,289 10/1963 Smith 4/213 3,122,757 3/1964 Sowards 4/213 3,790,9702/1974 Bendersky et a1. 4/213 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS PrimaryExaminer-Henry K. Artis [57 ABSTRACT An improved toilet stool having anannular conduit seat with intake openings in communication with theinside of the toilet bowl. The improvement being a ventilating meanswhich comprises an adapter plate situated underneath a tank. The adapterplate has a structure defining a conduit which is in communication withthe toilet bowl through the intake openings of the seat. A means isattached within the tank or underneath a compartment attached to theadapter plate and removes normally contaminated air from the inside ofthe toilet bowl through the intake openings and the conduit of theadapter plate for passing it into the outside atmosphere through a meansfor conducting in communication therewith. A switch means is connectedup to the upper rim of the toilet bowl and is operably connected to themeans for removing such that pressure exerted on the top of the seatoperates the switch means to activate the means for removing.

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\ il l TOILET STOOL VENTILATING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to a toilet stoolventilating means. More specifically, this invention provides animproved toilet stool ventilating means which utilizes no filteringmeans for passing normally contaminated air into the surroundingatmosphere.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various other types of toilet stoolventilating devices are known in the prior art as operable for removingcontaminated air and odors from within a toilet bowl. However, thesedevices are generally costly to manufacture and unsightly in appearanceas well as requiring specially designed toilet bowls and additional airreceiving rings or the like attached to the seats or the toilet bowlstructure. Additionally, some of these prior art devices requiremounting of the filter unit in a remote location not immediatelyadjacent to the toilet stool which often times then makes it not easilyaccessible for filter replacement. One known means of ventilating atoilet stool is to attach an inlet conduit to the seat or to the bowlarea and connect the conduit to a filtering unit placed elsewhere; thisis not generally satisfactory because of the general unsightlyappearance of the additional structure needed to be added to the toiletstool and the remotely placed filtering unit. Another common means ofventilating a bathroom is by using ceiling or wall vents to carrycontaminated air from the room; this is generally not satisfactorybecause of removal of a large quantity of heated or air-conditioned airwhich must be replaced. Therefore, what is needed and what has beeninvented by me is an improved toilet stool ventilating means without theforegoing deficiencies associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention accomplishes its desiredobjects by broadly providing an improved toilet stool mounted on asupporting surface and including a generally annular conduit having anexit aperture and intake openings in communication with the inside ofthe toilet bowl. The seat circumscribes the upper rim of the toilet bowlwhen in a lowered position. A tank is mounted on the toilet stool andincludes a flushing liquid and means connected therein to supply theflushing liquid to the toilet bowl through a discharge conduit. Theimprovement is a ventilating means which comprises an adapter platesituated underneath the tank and having the conduit seat pivotallyattached thereto. The adapter plate has a structure defining a conduitwhich is in communication with the exit aperture of the seat. Theventilating means also has a means for removing normally contaminatedair from the inside of the toilet bowl through the intake openings. theexit aperture. the conduit of the adapter plate, in order stated, fordeodorizing the normally contaminated air and passing it into thesurrounding atmosphere through the means for conducting which is incommunication with the means for removing. A switch means is connectedto the rim and is operably connected to the means for removing such thatpressure exerted on the top of the seat operates the switch means toactivate the means for removing.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedtoilet stool ventilating means which overcomes the aforementioneddisadvantages associated with prior art devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved toiletstool ventilating means which can be used within a conventional toiletstool structure without substantially altering its appearance.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved toiletstool ventilating means which utilizes no filter, is easy to clean, andis also efficient and relatively economical to manufacture and operate.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which willbecome apparent as the following description proceeds are obtained bythis novel ventilating means for a toilet stool, a preferred embodimentbeing shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only.wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partial vertical sectionalview disclosing the blower in communication with a conduit in theadapter plate and a vent stack and housed within a compartment attachedunderneath the adapter plate;

FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view disclosing the blower housedwithin the tank behind a watertight partition and in communication withthe conduit of the adapter plate and with the sewer below the toilettrap through a means for conducting having a means for preventing thebackflow of contaminated air pivotally lodged therein;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the housed blower incommunication with a conduit having a plate member pivotally lodgedtherein and leading to either the vent stack or to the sewer beneath thetoilet trap;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the housed blower in communication witha conduit having a solenoid antibackflow valve lodged therein to preventthe backflow of contaminated air;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the toilet stool of FIG. 1 havinga cutaway portion showing the watertight partition separating theflushing liquid from the blower which is in communication with the ventstack;

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of the stool and tank disclosing indashed lines an embodiment of the adapter plate conduit;

FIG. 7 is a partial top plan view of another embodiment of the stool andtank disclosing in dashed lines the adapter plate conduit being piercedby a flushing liquid discharge conduit;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the line 88 inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the switch means whichactivates the blower and solenoid valve when pressure is applied to thetoilet seat; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view disclosing the blowerin communication with the conduit in the adapter plate and a vent stackand housed within a compartment attached underneath the adapter plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring in detail now to thedrawings, wherein similar or like parts of the invention are identifiedby like reference numerals, a toilet stool, generally illustrated as 20,is mounted on a supporting surface 22 and has an annular conduit seat 24horizontally and pivotally attached to an adapter plate 26, and isessentially aligned therewith when the seat 24 is in a lowered positionas shown in FIGS. I, 2, 5, 8 and 10. Conduit seat 24 has exit aperture28 and intake openings 30 which are in communication with the inside ofthe toilet stool 20. The seat 24 circumscribes an upper rim 32 of thetoilet stool 20. A tank 34 with lid 35 is mounted on top of adapterplate 26 and has a flushing liquid 27 and means 36 connected therein tosupply the flushing liquid 27 from the tank 34 to the toilet stool 20through a discharge conduit 38. The adapter plate 26 has a conduit 40which is in communication with exit aperture 28 and is sealed at 72. Thedischarge conduit 35 pierces conduit 40 in FIGS. 7 and 8 such that thecontaminated air being removed from the toilet stool 20 generally flowsaround the conduit 38. FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10 disclose the dischargeconduit 38 as being conventional and not piercing conduit 40.

A means 44 for removing normally contaminated air from the inside of thetoilet stool 20 is in communication with conduit 40 and removes thecontaminated air from the stool 20 through the following: intakeopenings 30, exit aperture 28, conduit 40, in order stated, for passingthe air into the atmosphere through a means for discharging generallyillustrated as 42. Means 42 may be any suitable means but is preferablyeither a vent stack 41 or a conduit 43 leading to the sewer beneath atoilet trap generally illustrated as 69. Means 44 may also be anysuitable means but is preferably a blower and has a conductor 45 with aplug 47 attached thereto for insertion into a source of power (not shownin the drawings).

A switch means, generally indicated as 46, is connected to rim 32 and iselectrically operably connected by conductors 48 to conductor 45 suchthat when pressure exerted on the top of seat 24 operates switch means46 to activate the means for removing 44.

Switch means 46 may be any suitable switch which is capable of closingan electrical circuit. Preferably, switch means 46 is a plunger-type asfully disclosed in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 shows seat 24 compressing a plunger 50 which is slidably lodgedwithin a sleeve 52 having a spring 54 for upwardly biasing the plunger50 against the seat 24 when it is not being used. Contact bar 56 ispivotally fastened within housing 58 and is pivoted against amicro-switch 60 (well known within the art) by the downward force of theplunger 50. Micro-switch 60 closes the circuit and activates the blower44.

The location of means (or blower) 44 has two preferred embodiments.FIGS. I and I disclose a first em bodiment showing the blower 44removably housed in a compartment 66 which is attached underneath theadapter plate 26. FIGS. 2 and disclose a second embodiment showing theblower 44 removably housed in the tank 34. A watertight partition 62 isattached to the internal sides of the tank 34 to prevent the blower 44from being inundated with flushing liquid 27. Both embodiments (as shownin FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and discharge contaminated air either into vent stack41 via compartment 64 and conduit 67, or into the sewer (not shown inthe drawings) underneath the toilet trap, generally indicated as 69, viaconduit 43.

Means for conducting 42 additionally includes a means for preventing 80the backflow of contaminated air which is connected therein in proximityto the means for removing 44. Means for preventing 80 may be anysuitable means but is preferably a plate member 82 as shown in FIG. 3which is pivotally connected to the means for conducting 42 and iscontiguously situated to a point 83 where the means for removing 44connects with the means for conducting 42 such as to entirely block thepoint 83 to prevent the backflow of the contaminated air. The platemember 82 is normally biased in a closed position by a spring 84 loadedat the pivot point. Air pressure caused by blower 44 opens plate 82 toallow the passage of contaminated air. Means for preventing 80 as shownin FIG. 4, may also be a solenoid valve, generally indicated as 85,electrically connected to the switch means 46 via conductor 86. Solenoidvalve includes a shaft 87 and a stopper 88 and when pressure is exertedon the top of the seat 24 the switch means 46 opens the stopper 88 ofsolenoid 85 to allow the passage of the normally contaminated air fromthe means for removing 44 through the means for conducting 42. The platemember 80 is the most preferred means because of the cost element andease of maintenance.

The two preferred aforementioned means for preventing 80 and 85, as wellas any suitable means for preventing 80, may be utilized in any of thepreviously mentioned embodiments. For example, blower 44 removablysituated in compartment 66, having conduit 38 piercing conduit 40 ofadapter plate 26 (see FIGS. 7 and 8), or with conduit 38 not piercingconduit 40 (see FIG. 6), may have plate 80 or solenoid 85 to prevent thebackflow of contaminated air when blower 44 discharges the contaminatedair into the outside atmosphere via vent stack 41 (see FIG. I) or viaconduit 43 to toilet trap 69 (see FIG. 10). Similarly, blower 44 in tank34 having conduit 38 piercing conduit 40 (or having the conventionaldischarge of FIG. 6) may also have plate 80 or solenoid 85 to preventthe backflow of contaminated air when blower 44 blows the contaminatedair through vent stack 41 as shown in FIG. 5 (or through conduit 43 totoilet trap 69 as shown in FIG. 2) for discharge into the outsideatmosphere.

With continual reference to the drawings for operation of the invention,seat 24 (normally biased upward by a spring which is not shown in thedrawings) when used is lowered such that plunger 50 is driven againstcontact bar 56 which causes micro-switch to close the electrical circuiton conductors 48 and 45, and activate the blower 44. When operating, theblower 44 creates a vacuum through conduit 40 such that contaminated airwithin stool 20 is sucked through intake openings 30, through conduit40, and into the blower 44 from where it is discharged either into ventstack 41 via compartment 64 and conduit 67, or into the sewer situatedunderneath the toilet trap 69 via conduit 43. Discharge conduit 38 iscontiguously situated with respect to conduit 43. Blower 44 ispositioned either in compartment 66 or tank 34. The anti-backflow meansin preventing the flow back of contaminated air may be either springbiased plate member 82 or solenoid valve 85. If solenoid valve isutilized, then when pressure is applied on top of seat 24 to driveplunger 50 against bar 56 to cause switch 60 to close the electricalcircuit on conductors 48 and 45 and activate blower 44, the solenoidvalve 85 is simultaneously caused to be open by the closing of theelectrical circuit on conductor 86 which is electrically connected toconductors 48 of switch 60.

The path which the normally contaminated air takes to the blower 44depends on whether the embodiment of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 is used. Theembodiment of FIG.

6 discloses the discharge conduit 38 as not piercing the conduit 30.Discharge conduit 38 pierces conduit 40 in the embodiment of FIG. 7 andcontaminated air is swirled around conduit 38. I

After pressure is released from the top of seat 24 it is upwardly biasedby a spring (not shown in the drawings) such that seat 24 is lifted offthe top of plunger 50. This causes spring 54 to upwardly bias theplunger 50 away from the contact bar 56 to open the electrical circuiton conductors 48 and 45 (and 86 if the solenoid 85 is used) anddeactivate the blower 44 (and solenoid 85).

While the present invention has been described herein with reference toparticular embodiments therof, a latitude of modification, variouschanges and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, andin some instances some features of the invention will be employedwithout a corresponding use of other features without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth.

We claim:

ll. An improved toilet stool mounted on a supporting surface andincluding a generally annular conduit seat having an exit aperture andintake openings in communication with the inside of the toilet bowl,said seat circumscribing the upper rim of said toilet bowl when in alowered position. a tank having a flashing liquid and means connectedtherein to supply the flushing liquid to the toilet bowl through adischarge conduit, the improvement being a ventilating means whichcomprises:

a. an adapter plate situated underneath said tank and having saidconduit seat pivotally attached thereto and including a structuredefining a conduit which is in communication with said exit aperture ofsaid seat, said adapter plate is horizontally attached to the rear ofsaid seat and is essentially aligned therewith whcn said seat is in alowered position, said adapter plate conduit discharging at a pointdisposed underneath one end portion of said tank,

b. means for conducting normally contaminated air into the outsideatmosphere communicably connected with means for removing said normallycontaminated air from the inside of said toilet bowl through said intakeopenings, said exit aperture, said conduit of said adapter plate, inorder stated, for passing it through said means for conducting into theoutside atmosphere,

c. means mounted with said means for conducting to prevent the backflowof contaminated air into said toilet bowl, and

d. switch means connected to said rim and electrically operablyconnected to said means for removing such that pressure exerted on thetop of said seat operates said switch means to activate said means forremoving.

2. The ventilating means of claim I wherein said discharge conduitpicrces said conduit of said adapter plate such that contaminated airbeing removed from said toilet bowl generally flows around saiddischarge conduit.

3. The ventilating means of claim 1, wherein:

a. said tank additionally includes a watertight partition uprightlyattached to the internal sides of said tank lorming a watertightcompartment separating said flushing liquid from the cavity of saidcompartmcnt,

b. said means for removing contaminated air is removably lodged withinsaid compartment and communicably connected with said conduit of saidadapter plate, and

c. said means for preventing backflow of contaminated air comprises aplate member pivotally connected to said means for conducting andcontigously situated to the point where said means for removing connectswith said means for conducting such as to entirely block said point toprevent the backflow of contaminated air, said plate member beingnormally biased in a closed position by a spring loaded at the pivotpoint.

4. The ventilating means of claim 3 wherein:

a. said means for conducting comprises a vent stack connected to saidmeans for passing said normally contaminated air into the outsideatmosphere, and

b. said means for preventing being connected within said vent stack inproximity to said means for removing.

5. The ventilating means of claim 3 wherein said means for preventingcomprises a solenoid valve electrically connected to said switch meanssuch that pressure exerted on the top of said seat operates said switchmeans to open said solenoid valve to allow the passage of said normallycontaminated air from said means for removing through said means forconducting.

6. The ventilating means of claim 3, wherein:

a. said means for conducting comprises a second conduit connecting saidmeans for removing with the sewer below the toilet trap, and

b. said means for preventing being connected within said second conduitin proximity to said means for removing.

7. The ventilating means of claim I, additionally including:

a. a compartment attached underneath said adapter plate wherein saidmeans for removing removably lodges, said compartment being communicablyconnected with said conduit of said adapter plate,

b. said means for conducting comprises a second conduit connecting saidmeans for removing with the sewer below the toilet trap, and

. said means for preventing comprises a plate member pivotally connectedto said means for conducting and contigously situated to the point wheresaid means for removing connects with said means for conducting such asto entirely block said point to prevent the backflow of contaminatedair, said plate member being normally biased in a closed position by aspring loaded at the pivot point.

8. The ventilating means of claim 7, wherein:

a. said means for conducting comprises a vent stack connected to saidmeans for removing for passing said normally contaminated air into theoutside atmosphere, and

b. said means for conducting additionally includes a means forpreventing the backflow of contaminated air, said means for preventingbeing connected within said vent stack in proximity to said means forremoving.

9. The ventilating means of claim 7, wherein:

a. said means for conducting comprises a second conduit connecting saidmeans for removing with the sewer below the toilet trap, and

sure exerted on the top of said seat operates said switch means to opensaid solenoid valve to allow passage of said normally contaminated airfrom said means for removing through said means for conducting.

1. An improved toilet stool mounted on a supporting surface andincluding a generally annular conduit seat having an exit aperture andintake openings in communication with the inside of the toilet bowl,said seat circumscribing the upper rim of said toilet bowl when in alowered position, a tank having a flushing liquid and means connectedtherein to supply the flushing liquid to the toilet bowl through adischarge conduit, the improvement being a ventilating means whichcomprises: a. an adapter plate situated underneath said tank and havingsaid conduit seat pivotally attached thereto and including a structuredefining a conduit which is in communication with said exit aperture ofsaid seat, said adapter plate is horizontally attached to the rear ofsaid seat and is essentially aligned therewith when said seat is in alowered position, said adapter plate conduit discharging at a pointdisposed underneath one end portion of said tank, b. means forconducting normally contaminated air into the outside atmospherecommunicably connected with means for removing said normallycontaminated air from the inside of said toilet bowl through said intakeopenings, said exit aperture, said conduit of said adapter plate, inorder stated, for passing it through said means for conducting into theoutside atmosphere, c. means mounted with said means for conducting toprevent the backflow of contaminated air into said toilet bowl, and d.switch means connected to said rim and electrically operably connectedto said means for removing such that pressure exerted on the top of saidseat operates said switch means to activate said means for removing. 2.The ventilating means of claim 1 wherein said discharge conduit piercessaid conduit of said adapter plate such that contaminated air beingremoved from said toilet bowl generally flows around said dischargeconduit.
 3. The ventilating means of claim 1, wherein: a. said tankadditionally includes a watertight partition uprightly attached to theinternal sides of said tank forming a watertight compartment separatingsaid flushing liquid from the cavity of said compartment, b. said meansfor removing contaminated air is removably lodged within saidcompartment and communicably connected with said conduit of said adapterplate, and c. said means for preventing backflow of contaminated aircomprises a plate member pivotally connected to said means forconducting and contigously situated to the point where said means forremoving connects with said means for conducting such as to entirelyblock said point to prevent the backflow of contaminated air, said platemember being normally biased in a closed position by a spring loaded atthe pivot point.
 4. The ventilating means of claim 3 wherein: a. saidmeans for conducting comprises a vent stack connected to said means forpassing said normally contaminated air into the outside atmosphere, andb. said means for preventing being connected within said vent stack inproximity to said means for removing.
 5. The ventilating means of claim3 wherein said means for preventing comprises a solenoid valveelectrically connected to said switch means such that pressure exertedon the top of said seat operates said switch means to open said solenoidvalve to allow the passage of said normally contaminated air from saidmeans for removing through said means for conducting.
 6. The ventilatingmeans of claim 3, wherein: a. said means for conducting comprises asecond conduit connecting said means for removing with The sewer belowthe toilet trap, and b. said means for preventing being connected withinsaid second conduit in proximity to said means for removing.
 7. Theventilating means of claim 1, additionally including: a. a compartmentattached underneath said adapter plate wherein said means for removingremovably lodges, said compartment being communicably connected withsaid conduit of said adapter plate, b. said means for conductingcomprises a second conduit connecting said means for removing with thesewer below the toilet trap, and c. said means for preventing comprisesa plate member pivotally connected to said means for conducting andcontigously situated to the point where said means for removing connectswith said means for conducting such as to entirely block said point toprevent the backflow of contaminated air, said plate member beingnormally biased in a closed position by a spring loaded at the pivotpoint.
 8. The ventilating means of claim 7, wherein: a. said means forconducting comprises a vent stack connected to said means for removingfor passing said normally contaminated air into the outside atmosphere,and b. said means for conducting additionally includes a means forpreventing the backflow of contaminated air, said means for preventingbeing connected within said vent stack in proximity to said means forremoving.
 9. The ventilating means of claim 7, wherein: a. said meansfor conducting comprises a second conduit connecting said means forremoving with the sewer below the toilet trap, and b. said means forpreventing being connected within said second conduit in proximity withsaid means for removing.
 10. The ventilating means of claim 7 whereinsaid means for preventing comprises a solenoid valve electricallyconnected to said switch means such that pressure exerted on the top ofsaid seat operates said switch means to open said solenoid valve toallow passage of said normally contaminated air from said means forremoving through said means for conducting.